New Delhi, May 1 -- Punjab has recorded nearly 4,600 knee replacement surgeries in the past three months under its publicly funded Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY), signalling a sharp rise in the uptake of elective procedures driven by improved affordability.

The scheme, rolled out by the government led by Bhagwant Mann, offers cashless health coverage of up to Rs.10 lakh per family per year. It is designed to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and expand access to secondary and tertiary care.

Healthcare providers say the impact is visible across public hospitals. "We have seen a 40-50% increase in knee replacement procedures," said Dr Karan Chopra, orthopaedic surgeon at Civil Hospital Barnala. "Cost was the biggest barrier earlier. With ...